‘I was terrified:’ Atlanta mother recalls moment 12-year-old swept away by rip current

PENSACOLA, Fla. — A 12-year-old boy who was rescued after being swept away by a rip current while on spring break in Florida has died after a week on life support.

Rashad Williams was swimming at Johnson Beach in Pensacola on April 6 when he and a few other children got caught in a strong current.

“Never in a million years, I would have thought I would be in a situation like this. Never,” said Addie Jones.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Jones told Channel 2′s Larry Spruill she never would have thought she would have to help her good friend Roshanda Williams bury her 12-year-old son, Rashad Williams.

“His mom, she’s heartbroken. She’s very sad. She’s going through so many mixed emotions,” said Jones.

Jones said she took her son and Rashad to the beach for spring break.

“They got back into the water and, before you know it, the rip current came, that’s when the trouble occurred. I was terrified. I was terrified. I couldn’t believe what was going on,” she said.

On Monday, Spruill spoke with the family of 16-year-old Bryce Brooks. Both Brooks and Charles Johnson II died while they tried to save a group of kids from drowning. Rashad Williams was one of those kids.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Former NBA player convicted of killing Atlanta mother to be released, DA trying to stop new sentence
• DeKalb teacher arrested after colleague finds loaded gun in elementary school restroom
• Homeowner shot as someone tries breaking into his home in DeKalb County, police say

“Did you guys know Bryce?” Spruill asked Jones.

“No, everything was just a coincidence. You know all of us were from Atlanta. I’m definitely grateful and thankful for them,” she replied.

Williams’ family described Rashad as a gentle giant. He was a 7th grader at Ralph J. Bunche Middle School in southwest Atlanta who loved sports and video games.

“He’s very smart. He was outgoing. Respectable. He stood six foot tall to be 12 years old,” said Jones.

Jones said they still can’t believe that he’s gone.

“We were supposed to be leaving Friday. All coming back home together. Not like this. Not like this at all,” she said.

The family has created a GoFundMe campaign to help with funeral costs.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Local family remembers teen who died on spring break saving kids from rip currents

©2022 Cox Media Group